Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Willy Telavi Tuvalu has no political parties. Allegiances revolve around personalities and geography. The 15-member parliament is popularly elected every four years. The prime minister is chosen by MPs.
President: Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz
Population
10,619
3,359,185
Life Expectancy
65.110 years
61.530 years
Capital City
Nouakchott
Largest city
Funafuti (population: 4,749)
Nouakchott (population: 661,400)
Human Development Index
0
0.557
GDP per capita
$2,200 US
Literacy Rate
%
51.2%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
19.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
30.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished in practice
Political System
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
military junta
Independence date
28 November 1960 (from France)
Religions
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Muslim 100%
Languages
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Exports
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
External Debt
$2,816,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Area
26 km sq
1,030,700 km sq
Coastline
24 km
754 km
Climate
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
